new sub-compact

[CJCmajor]

i am in the market for a new sub-compact auto loader. I am nervous of getting another semi-auto pistol. i am thinking of selling my s&W m&P because i am unable to shoot it very well. the ergo's just dont work for me. It fit my hand great but i just could not hit anything with it.

So i would like some idea's for me to further research and potentially purchase at a later date. This is where the great THR community comes in!!! what do you have for me?

a few things to keep in mind...
1) i really like the capacity of the glocks and Xd's but i am afraid i will be unable to shoot them well, much like the M&P.
2) i have already "test driven" the taurus millennium and didnt like it
3) i love the design features of the the Walther PPS and the HK p2000sk but they are bit out of my price range.
4) i want a reliable pistol that will last me a while.

so there you have it, cant wait to here what you all have to say

 

[JAREDSHS]

Get you a Glock 26 and LEARN how to shoot it!!! (9 mm is cheap enough that you should be able to afford enough practice ammo to get there, and you
will have a very conceilable and powerful enough weapon to protect you
and iyour family. You can carry the 26 in a pocket holster or on your hip.

 

[grace2u]

This is a question I am asking myself. I had an XD, two millenniums, 24/7, and p95 and none really did it for me. the XD was ok, but felt a bit...clunky. the millenniums were ok, the 24/7 was as close as I've come to finding what I want. Don't get me started on the Ruger. I'm like the idea of getting away from the polymer pistols, but I don't what I'm looking at. I might be interested in a Sig. But as far "feel", I'm really eyeing the Walther PK380.

 

[NG VI]

Welcome to THR grace2u!

I have a Glock 27, and I love it. When I first got it I kind of dicked it up a bit playing with magazine extensions, thinking that would help my shooting. I was wrong. I say give the 26 a shot, and embrace the curled pinky, it detracts from your form and strengthens your grip when you curl it under the stock or GAP baseplate.

Phenomenal guns, great shooters, reliable, accurate, a tight, streamlined package.

 

[mrjohnston]

Perhaps a Springfield EMP 9mm, still holds 8 and hits count for more that potential hits. I would even say check out the Walther P99, still only 8 or so rnds. It's only a $100 or so more that the m&p/glock/xd range. I hate to here that you didn't like the M&P, it's became my new favorite gun. What was it that you didn't like with the M&P?

 

[arizona98tj]

Why not go to a range where you can rent several that you are interested in and actually get some trigger time with them? You already have some ideas as to what you are interested in.

Wouldn't that be better than ME telling YOU what works well for ME?

 

[NG VI]

Wouldn't that be better than ME telling YOU what works well for ME?

Yeah but where's the sense of community in that?








It might give him an idea which pistols would be great to start the rental quest on.

 

[CJCmajor]

thanks for all your guys help so far.

what i didnt like about the M&P?
i loved this gun, it was reliable and so comfortable to shoot. but i just could not hit anything with it. i purchased it over a year ago ( i shot it before i bought it) i just never improved after more than a year of trying consistantly. My father shoots it like a tack dart!!! so i feel the need to try somethign different

Why i asked the THR community?
i asked this question because feel as if i have hit a road block. I have shot glocks, taurus's and what not. I just wanted to think out side those. i have not shot the XD line. i manily posed the question for idea's of what i can go to the range and try out.

keep the idea's coming

 

[ejfalvo]

Everybodies different. IMHO, Glocks, XD's, Berettas, et al will all perform well as a sub-compact. It all is driven by how well the firearm fits your hand and how well/fast you can bring it on target. I've shot most manufacturers of semis in full size, compact, and sub-compact formats. For me, the XDs fits my hand best. I currently have a Compact 45ACP and a SC 40SW from SA. Both shoot great and with over 1000 rounds thru each, they have performed flawlessly.

Listen/read what others have said about different manufacturers but try to shoot different offerings from the various manufactures to find the firearm that best fits your grip.

 

[autospike]

Questions:

You mentioned that you couldn't hit with the M&P but your dad shot it very well. Are there any other guns that you've shot or owned that you found easy to shoot?

Were you able to identify why you couldn't hit with the M&P? (Grip, sights, trigger, etc.)

What is your standard for shooting well? (5 in a pie plate at 7 yards -or- 3 in 3"@50', etc.)

 

[Zundfolge]

CJCMajor, I think you're looking for a hardware solution to a software problem.

Maybe you could describe what you meant by "could not hit anything with it".

Were you consistently missing in the same way?

Take a look at this target and maybe you can figure out what you're doing.

 

[gilfo]

Check into the CZ Rami Poly or Allow versions, I have the Rami P and love it.
Or the CZ PCR or 75 Compact for a little bigger version

 

[AJChenMPH]

CJCMajor, I think you're looking for a hardware solution to a software problem.

Unfortunately, I'm going to concur with this diagnosis.

I've noticed that when I'm not really concentrating or if I'm messing around a bit (i.e., trying new things and not concentrating on breath and trigger control), I'm also all over the place on the target. However, if I really buckle down and take my time with my shot placement, I can wear a pretty ragged hole inside the 9 ring at 10 yards.

Are there any other guns that you've shot or owned that you found easy to shoot?

On the other hand, if there already is an autoloader that you shoot really well, perhaps the s/c version of it will also be a good fit for you.

Good luck...

 

[ATBackPackin]

While I agree with Zundfolge, I have read about quite a few people having the same problem with HC polymers ( I.E. M&P, Glock, XD(M), ect.). I have however read a lot of reviews of people having the same problem as you doing exceptionally well straight out of the box with the FN Herstal FNP 9. It is a HC semi-auto in your price range. I have not shot this gun personally but I have handled it and thought it to be very comfortable. If you decide not to try to correct your shooting with the M&P, perhaps you can find a place to test shoot the FNP 9 yourself. Best of luck either way.

 

[CJCmajor]

i have shot other guns. That is the odd thing, i have a 642-2 that i shoot very well. better than the M&P in fact. which is why i thought to try a new platform (gun). i certainly see where you are coming from with my "software" problem. looking at the pie chart i think it is a combination of "breaking wrist" and possibly "grip". but i do so well with the snub-nose revolver i just dont get it.

i typically shoot at 7 yards and with the M&P my pattern is consistently low, which confirms the software issue. i just wish i could shoot my auto loader as confidently as my revolver.


I did just get back from the range.... i through my M&P in the bag. i really focused on staying of target throughout shot. my shot placement is much improved from previous attempts.....

 

[ATBackPackin]

Really happy to hear you improved some. If you can keep practicing and improving I would say stay with the M&P. It would be hard to find a better semi in that price range; of course that is only an opinion.

Do you have smaller hands? I ask because I do and while I was in the Marines a friend on the shooting team taught me a little trick. I use my middle finger as my trigger finger and this does two things. For one it forces you to have a higher and tighter grip. Secondly, your middle finger is longer which allows you to squeeze the trigger better as opposed to pulling or jerking it. It vastly improved my shooting.

 

[Walkalong]

The XD has a vastly superior trigger to the M&P and is much easier to shoot well.

 

[autospike]

OK... I misread your original post. I thought you had already sold off the M&P.

Here's my $.02:

Don't sell anything just yet. As already stated, this is most likely a software problem not hardware. Changing hardware may make it a little better for you, but what you really need is to nail down what's going wrong. Once that happens, you'll be in a much better place.

For the amount you would lose buying and trading off a couple of guns, you can get some good training. There's no shame for even an experienced shooter to go get help with tightening up skills. Concentrate on your grip, sight alignment, trigger control, etc. Try benching that puppy the next time you go to the range, just to see what it's capable of and to eliminate some of the variables.

Consider dry fire practice. An excellent dry-fire regimen can be found here: http://www.dryfire-practice.com/
I know the website looks sketchy, it's good stuff and safe to order. The material is produced by an instructor at the Rogers School.

A friend of mine went through something very similar. He went from shooting a revolver very well to struggling with an auto. You're not alone.

 

[Teddyb]

The Glock 26 is probably the most popular CCW ever made and carried by more people than any other gun

 

[BP Hunter]

Have you tried firing the Kel Tec PF9? If I am not carrying my Taurus Millenium Pro 145, I am carrying the PF9. I have a size 7 surgical glove hand. The Kel Tec fits perfectly in my hands and shoots to where I point it. I already got used to the long double action trigger and can group quite well at 10 yards rapid shooting. It's so thin that I sometimes I forget I'm carrying. It's inexpensive too!!

 

[Quoheleth]

I've heard things about folks having a tough time with DA striker-fired autos, too.

I'm one of them.

I shoot DA/SA autos much better. I sold my M&P - no matter how hard I concentrated, I shot low with the gun - and bought a CZ85 instead. I shoot that much better, even with the long, camming action. I shot a friends Sig 250 in 9mm and shot that DA hammer-fired gun very well, likewise her husband's Sig 226.

The gun I shot best of all was a Taurus PT92, which I foolishly sold after drinking the anti-Taurus kool-aid here. The Smith had to be a better gun, right. :banghead:

Q

 

[jon_in_wv]

I have an M&P 9C that I've carried regularly for several years now. It is one of the easiest weapons I've ever handled to shoot quickly and accurately. I've met several guys on the range with Glocks and every one of them shot better with my M&P than they did with their own weapons. Thats not the case for everyone though. I only bring it up because you might trade the M&P for a Glock and find out you are no better off. The most important thing is how the weapon fits YOU. For me 1911s and I just don't mix and even though I think the M&Ps fit me perfectly that doesn't mean they fit you at all. Try some different firearms and see what suits you.